Leicester City’s Historic Footballing Connection with Zambia

24.02.2025 | Football DNA

A Forgotten Foxes Trophy From Zambia

Leicester City Football Club recently reflected on a unique piece of its history, highlighting a strong and unexpected connection with Zambia. The club’s Heritage Collection includes numerous trophies, among them a copper tankard inscribed with ‘Peter Stuyvesant International,’ won by Leicester City in 1968. This trophy represents a remarkable footballing bond between the East Midlands club and the Zambian football community.

In 1968, under the leadership of assistant manager Bert Johnson, Leicester City embarked on a football tour to Zambia, accompanied by 15 qualified FA coaches. During that period, it was common for clubs to tour overseas, both for competitive matches and to help develop the sport in different regions. Leicester City had previously visited Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1961, the Netherlands in 1963, and Singapore in 1967. However, the Zambia tour stood out due to its lasting impact.

During their stay, Leicester City played six matches, winning all of them convincingly. The games included three encounters against the Zambian national team, two against a Zambian FA XI, and one against an English FA Player/Coaches XI. Despite Leicester's involvement in three FA Cup finals during that decade, this tour remained a notable moment in the club’s history.

Zambia’s then-President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, recognized the significance of the visit, calling it ‘probably the greatest occasion in the history of Association Football in Zambia.’ Upon the team’s return to England, he expressed his gratitude in a letter to Leicester City’s chairman, Alf Pallett, acknowledging the team’s contributions to football development in Zambia. This remains the only correspondence Leicester City has received from a Head of State and is carefully preserved in the club’s archives.

The impact of the tour extended beyond the visit itself. Almost a year later, on the eve of Leicester City’s third FA Cup final of the decade, Zambia’s Director of Sport sent a telegram wishing the club success at Wembley, stating, ‘Your success will also be ours.’ This message highlighted the strong impression Leicester had left on Zambian football, demonstrating that the ties between the club and the nation endured long after the tour had ended.